Wheel for chairs



Aug. 1; 1944.

E. C. THORNTON WHEEL FOR CHAIRS Filed March 9, 1942 attorney Patented Aug. 1, 1944 UNITED" STATES PATENT OFFICE 7' I 1 2 ,354,845

WHEEL FQR, CHAIRS- l Edward-C. Thomas; Youngstown, Ohio Application March 9, 1942, Serial No. 433,965

1- Claim. (01. V v the invention resides in the combination and at;

This invention relates to wheels for chairs and more particularly to a portable'wheel and axle assembly adapted to be positioned beneath the rockers of a rocking chair. or in under "the back legs of a straight chair in order to facilitate the movement of the chair and an occupant. I

The principal object of the invention is the provision of a portable wheel and axle assembly adapted to carry achair. g I

A further object of the invention isthe provision of a wheel and axle assembly provided with separate and distinct means for engaging either the rockers of a rocking chair or the back legs of a straight chair in order to facilitate the movement of the same thereby. A further object of the invention is the provision of a wheel and axle assembly so formed as to be adjustable as to widthso as to make the same adaptable for use upon rocking chairs or straight chairs of varyingwidths.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a wheel and axle assembly for lending portability to straight chairs and including means formed thereon against which the back of a straight chair contacts in order to insure the positive location of the straight chair on the device.

The wheels for chairs shown and described herein have been designed to facilitate the moving about of invalids or primarily those temporarily ill and confined to a chair. As is wellknown, it has heretofore been necessary to either carry the chair and occupant about the premises or buy or rent an expensive wheel chair of the construction well-known in the art and familiar to the general public and which wheel chair, due to the large wheels commonly employed, often encourages the occupant to move about the premises by manually manipulating the large wheels so as to cause the wheel chair to roll and thereby placing an undue strain upon the occupant. The present invention relates particularly to a simple wheel and axle assembly wherein underslung portions of the axle are adapted to receive either the rockers of a rocking chair or the back legs of a straight chair so that the chair may be tilted backwardly upon the wheels of the device and easily and conveniently rolled about the premises thus lending portability to the chair and occupant. Due to its size and use, it makes movement of the chair by the occupant an impossibility and thereby insures against such undesirable action.

With the foregoing and other objects in View which will appear as the description proceeds,

rangement'of. parts and in the details of 0011-. struction hereinafter. described and claimed, it being understood that changes in theprecise embodiment of the inventionherein disclosed, can be made within the scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a rocking chair tilted back into position upon the device of the invention. 7

Figure 2 is an elevation of the device of the invention with parts being broken away.

Figure 3 is a top plan view of the invention.

Figure 4 is a side elevation of the invention being used with a straight chair positioned there on and tilt-ed'backwardly. i

By referring to Figures'2 and 3 of the drawing, it will be seen that the invention comprises an axle formed of two sections Ii! and IDA each section. being provided with an underslung por tion I! and HA, respectively, each of which underslung portion Ii and I IA is in turnprovided with rocker receiving. members I2 and IZA, each of the rocker receiving members I2 and HA is provided with cupped chair receiving portions I3 and I3A, respectively.

Conventional rubber tired wheels are indicated at I4 and MA and by referring to the centralmost section of the axle assembly, it will be observed that the portion IEI of the axle is adapted to receive in a slideable manner a smaller portion I5 forming in effect an extension of the axle portion IUA. A band I6 is preferably welded or otherwise afiixed about the end section of the axle portion I0 and a thumb screw I! i fitted in a drilled and tapped opening therethrough and adapted to engage, upon being turned inwardly, the extension I5 of the axle portion IOA. As will be understood by referring to Figures 2 and 3 of the drawing, the construction thus described permits the wheel and axle assembly to be extended transversely if desired or narrowed transversely in order that the rocker receiving members I2 and I2A or the chair leg receiving members I3 and [3A, respectively, may be brought to desirable position with respect to the rockers or back legs of the chair under which and in connection with which the wheel and axle assembly is to be used.

It will be seen by referring to Figure 3 that the rocker receiving members I2 and I2A engage the rockers of a rocking chair sufliciently to insure the chairs safe positioning thereon such By again referring to Figures 2 and 3 of the drawing, it will be observed that in order to adapt the assembly for use in straight chairs, the axle portion I has been provided with a socket mem ber 18 which is preferably welded or otherwise aflixed thereto so that it is in effect centrally located between the wheels l4 and MA, respectively, and an upwardly extending lever arm I9 is positioned in the socket member 3 and pivotally afiixed therein by means of a thumb screw 2|, the uppermost end of the lever arm I 9 preferably being provided with a cross member which may be of any width desired so that it is sufiicient to engage a portion of the back of a straight chair as may be seen by referring to Figure 4 wherein a straight chair 24 provided with back legs 25 has been positioned on the device, the lowermost portions of the back legs 25 engaging the members l3 and I3A, respectively, and the lever arm positioned so that it extends upwardly with the cross piece 20 thereof engaging the back of the chair in a manner so that the chair may be effectively balanced between the same and the members l3 and I3A which, it will be observed, are formed off center with respect to the transverse axle line of the device. The straight chair 24 therefore by resting upon the members I 3 and I3A in front of the axle lines as shown in Figure 4, cause the lever arm 19 and its cross piece 20 to move into engagement with the back of the chair and thus insure the safe It will be and secure positioning of the straight chair 24 on the wheel device.

It will be obvious that at such time as the device is used with a rocking chair, the lever arm [9 may be dispensed with but that at such times that it is used with a straight chair it is essential that it be used.

Modifications within the scope of the invention obviously contemplate the formation of the wheel and axle assembly from various materials such as castings, forgings, and tubular materials both round and square and otherwise shaped and, it will be obvious that the rocker engaging members l2 and HA may be surfaced with an abrasive material if desired or might themselves be formed in a slight curve in order to accurately match the rocker surface they will engage. It will also be obvious that the device may be formed by one underslung portion rather than causing the central most section of the axles l0 and IDA to be formed upon the same line as the end sections thereof upon which the wheels l4 and 14A are carried.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

The combination of a straight chair having a back and legs and wheel and axle assembly therefor, the said wheel and axle assembly comprising an axle having wheels mounted on the opposite ends thereof and provided with underslung cupped members positioned forwardly thereof and adapted to receive the back legs of the said chair, a projecting bracket formed on the said axle midway between the said ends thereof and forwardly thereof, a lever arm affixed to the said projecting bracket and extending upwardly therefrom and adapted to engage the back of the said chair positioned on the device, the location of the cupped leg receiving portions and the projecting bracket carrying the said lever arm causing the said chair to maintain its position on the said device when supported manually by the back thereof.

EDWARD C. THORNTON. 

